478 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Now, as I imderstand it from Dr. HoUomon's testimony, ESSA in 

 the Department of Commerce is the only agency which now has the 

 legal authority to make surveys of any consequence of our oceans 

 anywhere. Is that true ? 



Mr. Seidman, I do not think that is entirely correct. It is my under- 

 standing that the geological survey of the Department of the Interior 

 is now engaged in a cooperative program of reconnaissance on the 

 Atlantic Continental Shelf. 



Mr. Lennon. In a letter, and I am going to read that letter to you, 

 it is from Mr. Bob Giles, the General Counsel, directed to Mr. Herbert 

 Bonner, in which he points out that the ESSA in the Department of 

 Commerce has the authority to make these surveys under this Eeorga- 

 nization Plan No. 4 that established ESSA in the Department of Com- 

 merce, and he goes into some detail to explain that they do coordinate 

 and advise and counsel with the Department of the Interior, but 

 he does not say anything there about the Department of the Interior 

 being actually involved, contractually or otherwise, in making these 

 surveys. 



Mr. Seidman. Although the Department of Commerce has a focal 

 role, other agencies, including Navy, are engaged in surveys. This 

 is indicated in the national oceanographic program for fiscal year 

 1966, the table A-3, on individual agency budgets, shows that surveys 

 are being undertaken, were undertaken by the Navy in 1964, there 

 were none in 1965 and 1966; Geological Survey is engaged in surveys; 

 also the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. 



]\Ir. Lexkox. Well, Doctor, I am looking at the same thing on the 

 individual budget for agencies by functional areas. So while I notice 

 that the program for fiscal 1966, budget by functional areas, carries the 

 figure $78 million for research out of a total of $141 million; then I 

 read on and finally come down to table 3, that is what you are referring 

 to ; I believe the Navy's part of that is $33 million for research. 



Mr. Seidman. That is correct. 



Mr. Lennon. Now how is the Navy engaged in research with respect 

 to anything that would exploit the resources of the ocean? Their 

 research is related to antisubmarine warfare and sonar and things of 

 that nature. They are not interested in trying to find some method 

 that we can develop that we can exploit the resources of the ocean, 

 are they ? They are still attached to Defense, in other words ? 



Mr. Seidman. The purpose of the programs of the Navy are to meet 

 the special requirements of the Navy which are support of its mili- 

 tary mission, primarily. 



Now, as in other cases, survey work or research carried out in terms 

 of a specialized mission may have significance in other areas. We are 

 compiling a common body of data and information which may be 

 significant for all of the agencies which are engaged in oceanography. 



Mr. Lennon. Now, Doctor, let us return, if we will, to a little more 

 detailed discussion of the Senate bill which we have to consider, too, 

 in these hearings, and you have not spoken directly to that, but you 

 have spoken in opposition to comparable, almost identical House bills. 



Which part of S. 944 do you think could be used as an improve- 

 ment to H.R. 2218 ? 



Mr. Seidman. I think certainly we would be prepared to give con- 

 sideration, Mr. Chairman, to that part of S. 944 beginning at section 



